2007-01-14 10:20:05 · 5 answers · asked by chemwork 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
They are NOT different species. (See source.) Dogs and wolves can interbreed ... which is the definition of "same species."
Dogs are classified as a subspecies of the wolf. The wolf is Canis lupus. The domestic dog is Canis lupus familiaris. (Again, see source.)
'Subspecies' refers to two animals that can interbreed, but typically do not (usually because they rarely come into contact, or because they show very little interest in interbreeding). That is why dogs and wolves qualify as subspecies of the same species.
2007-01-14 11:16:45 · answer #1 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs and wolves can interbreed. Isn't that where the best sled dogs come from?
The definition of species varies depending on what area of biology you're talking about. Often times species classifications were established based on morphological distinctions (differences in the way things look) and never changed after that.
2007-01-14 10:29:00 · answer #2 · answered by floundering penguins 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Species can be separated by using behavior and morphology. Underneath natural stipulations (no longer man modified) the three species is not going to mate. It is just when the populations are unstable due to the fact that of artificial interference that they're going to interbreed.
2016-08-10 12:10:40 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The general view is that domesticated dogs are decended from wolves. They tend not to interbreed any more, mainly because of social differences -I don't know if it is impossible for them to interbreed.
2007-01-14 10:25:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
dogs and wolves are of the same class (they're canines) but they're different species.
an analogy would be how humans and apes are of the same class (we're primates), but obviously we're different species.
2007-01-14 11:58:17 · answer #5 · answered by Eragon <3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋